Fungi, Bacteria und Pathologie. — Bryophyten. 311 



Spaülding, Perley, A Disease of Black Oakscausedby 



Polyporiis obtusus Berk. (Missouri Botanical Garden Report. 



XVI. p. 109—115. pls. 13—19. June 1905.) 



The disease of oaks caused by Polyporiis obtusus is quite destruc- 

 tive in some portions of Ihe U ni ted States especially in M i s so ur i and 

 Arkansas. It attacks Qiierciis marilauclica and Q. veliitina very fre- 

 quently. One of the common means where by the fungus gains on 

 entrance into the tissues of the host is through holes made by wood- 

 boring insects. The fungus often fruits in the entrance of the burrovvs 

 of Prionoxystus robiniae Peck. This insect attacks oaks (Querciis sp. sp.) 

 in nearly all parts of the country. 



The rot caused by the fungus extends through the heart wood 

 charging its usual dark color first to a yellowish tint finally to almost 

 white. The fungus extracts lignin from the cell walls, destroying the 

 middle lamellae. The remaining cell walls give cellulose tests but fall 

 to give lignin reactions. The starch is dissolved in the medullary rays. 

 Other fungi that have been noted by the writer and others growing 

 in the burrows of wood-boring insects are Polyporiis volvatiis, P. pini- 

 cola, Schizophylliim alneiim, Lentinus lecomtei, and Polyporiis rimosus. 



Hedgcock. 



Stuart, Wm., Preparation and use of sprays, spray 



calendar. (Vermont Agric. Expt. Station. Bull. 113. 1905. 



p. 95-108.) 



A brief statement of methods and benefits of spraying. 



Perley Spaülding. 



Cresson, Jr. et T. Ezra, Buxbaumla aphylla L. (The Bryologist. 

 Vll. May 1904. p. 51—52.) 



B. aphylla is reported from vicinity of Philadelphia, Penn- 

 sylvania. Maxon. 



Grout, A. J., An Interesting MossBook. (The Bryologist. 

 VII. May 1904. p. 39—40.) 



Notes on a copy of the third edition (1S47) of „Twenty Lessons on 

 British Mosses'', by William Gardener. The book is of especial 

 interest inasmuch as it is an early exemple of the modern nature study 

 idea and ülustrated with actual driedspecimens characteristic of the groups 

 discussed. Maxon. 



Grout, A. J., The Peristome. VI. (The Bryologist. VII. 

 May 1904. p. 37—39. pl. 4 and text fig. l.) 



Besides giving a brief outline of the formation of the peristome in 

 Tortlila, the author discusses the peristomial characters of Encalypta. 

 The species of this genus, though closely related as regards leaf-structure 

 and the peculiar calyptra, show all stages of peristome development, 

 from none at all to a highly developed double one. They illustrate 

 intermediate stages between the nematodontoid and arthodontoid types of 

 peristome. 



The article is accompanied by a plate illustrating the peristomes 

 of Encalypta procera, E. longicolla and Georgia pelliicida. Maxon. 



Grout, A. J., The Specific (?) Vahie of the Position of 

 the Reproductive Organs in Bryum. (The Bryologist. 

 VII. May, 1904. p. 50—51.) 



